Fetal well-being in gravidas with diminished fetal activity at term

Twenty-five patients reporting a marked diminution in fetal activity at term in otherwise normal pregnancies were compared with 25 controls, matched for age, parity, and other factors, in whom movements were reported to be vigorous. Fetal well-being was assessed by maternal serum human placental lactogen concentration, maternal urinary estriol excretion, and fetal scalp blood acid-base values and hemoglobin concentration. Fetal biologic maturity was assessed by liquor creatinine concentration, percentage of orange cells on Nile blue staining, and "shake" testing. The 2 groups of patients showed no difference in fetoplacental well-being or degree of fetal biologic maturity.